Roller bearing for logging truck and trailer

Claim 2

In a logging truck-trailer combination of the type having front and rear log-supporting bunks with each bunk being pivotally mounted on and disposed above a support having a flat, upper surface, the improvement comprising: a bearing for attachment to the bunk adjacent to one end thereof, said bearing including a roller and means coupled with the ends of the roller for rotatably mounting the same on the bunk on one side thereof in a position with the roller extending longitudinally of the bunk and spaced above said support surface when the bunk is in a first operative position relative thereto, said roller being movable into engagement with the support surface therebelow as the bunk pivots from said first operative position to a second operative position about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the bunk, whereby the bunk can readily pivot about an upright axis relative to the support.

Claim 3

In a combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting means includes a pair of spaced mounting plates having configurations permitting the roller to be secured to the bunk with the longitudinal axis of the roller intersecting the pivotal axis of the bunk.

Claim 4

In a logging truck-trailer combination: a log-supporting bunk; a support below the bunk, said support having a flat, upper surface; structure mounting the bunk on the support for pivotal movement about a first, generally upright axis and about a second, generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the bunk; and a pair of bearings for each end of the bunk, respectively, each pair of bearings being secured to respective, opposite sides of the bunk, each bearing including a roller and a pair of spaced brackets for rotatably mounting the roller on the bunk with the roller extending between the brackets, each roller extending longitudinally of the bunk and movable into engagement with said upper surface therebelow when the bunk pivots about said second axis, whereby the roller can roll over said upper surface as the bunk pivots about said first axis.

Claim 5

In a logging truck-trailer combination: a log-supporting bunk; a support below the bunk, said support having a flat, upper surface; structure mounting the bunk on the support for pivotal movement about a first, generally upright axis and about a second, generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the bunk; and a pair of bearings for each end of the bunk, respectively, each pair of bearings being secured to respective, opposite sides of the bunk, each bearing including a roller and a pair of spaced brackets for rotatably mounting the roller on the bunk with the roller extending between the brackets, each roller extending longitudinally of the bunk and movable into engagement with said upper surface therebelow when the bunk pivots about said second axis, whereby the roller can roll over said upper surface as the bunk pivots about said first axis.

Claim 6

In the combination as set forth in claim 3, when the rollers are disposed with their longitudinal axis substantially intersecting said second axis.

Claim 7

In the combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein the outer end of each roller is higher than the inner end thereof when the bunk is substantially horizontal so that the roller can move into rolling engagement with said upper surface when the bunk pivots about said second axis.

Claim 8

In the combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein the bunk has front and rear faces, the brackets of each bearing being secured to a respective bunk face and extending laterally therefrom, the lower margins of the brackets being below the bottom of the bunk, each roller being secured to the roller margins of the corresponding brackets.

Claim 9

In a logging truck-trailer combination of The type having front and rear log-supporting bunks with each bunk being pivotally mounted on and disposed above a support having a flat, upper surface, the improvement comprising: a bearing for attachment to the bunk adjacent to one end thereof, said bearing including a roller and a pair of brackets, each bracket having first and second margins, the first margins adapted to be attached to one side of the bunk and the second margins adapted to be attached to the ends of the roller for rotatably mounting the same on the bunk on one side thereof in a position with the roller extending longitudinally of the bunk, the second margins being disposed to position one end of the roller above the opposite end thereof to permit the roller to move into engagement with the support surface therebelow as the bunk pivots from a first operative position to a second operative position about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the bunk, whereby the bunk can readily pivot about an upright axis relative to the support.

Claim 10

In a logging truck-trailer combination of The type having front and rear log-supporting bunks with each bunk being pivotally mounted on and disposed above a support having a flat, upper surface, the improvement comprising: a bearing for attachment to the bunk adjacent to one end thereof, said bearing including a roller and a pair of brackets, each bracket having first and second margins, the first margins adapted to be attached to one side of the bunk and the second margins adapted to be attached to the ends of the roller for rotatably mounting the same on the bunk on one side thereof in a position with the roller extending longitudinally of the bunk, the second margins being disposed to position one end of the roller above the opposite end thereof to permit the roller to move into engagement with the support surface therebelow as the bunk pivots from a first operative position to a second operative position about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the bunk, whereby the bunk can readily pivot about an upright axis relative to the support.

Claim 11

In a combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the brackets are adapted to be secured to one side of the bunk near its outer end, the outboard bracket being disposed to position the corresponding end of the roller at a location further from the bunk than the opposite end of the roller with the axis of the roller passing through the pivotal axis of the bunk.

Claim 12

In a combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the transverse width of the outboard bracket is greater than that of the inboard bracket.